Advice team manager jobs

Salary: £50,000 - £54,500
Contract: Full Time Perm
Location: Hybrid
Closing date: ASAP
Benefits: Flexible working, free gym membership at the Peterborough office, life assurance, plus a buy/sell annual leave scheme

We have a great opportunity for a Head of Communications working for an ambitious and growing health charity dedicated to improving the lives of people affected by a serious lung condition. Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer, this is a fantastic opportunity to shape and lead a communications function at a key stage of organisational growth and strategic development.
As part of this exciting role, you will lead the charity's communications and engagement function, developing and delivering a strategic communications plan that supports organisational objectives and raises the charity's profile nationally. You will manage and develop a small communications team, oversee media relations, digital communications, supporter engagement and internal communications, while ensuring consistent messaging and strong brand standards. Working closely with senior leaders across fundraising, research, policy and services, you will translate complex information into compelling stories that inspire supporters, engage stakeholders and demonstrate the charity's impact. You will also play a key role in strengthening communications systems, processes and reporting to support future growth.
To be successful as the Head of Communications, you will need:

• Significant senior-level experience in communications, marketing, media, engagement or public relations, with a track record of leading multi-channel communications strategies.
• Experience of managing and developing teams, alongside strong media relations, digital communications and stakeholder engagement expertise.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to turn complex information into engaging content and provide confident strategic advice to senior stakeholders.

If you would like to discuss this role with us please email your CV or contact us and quote the reference 3057AJ.

Ashby Jenkins Recruitment are a specialist charity recruitment agency, we use our extensive sector knowledge and experience to match candidates to the most suitable charity jobs. We are passionate about improving equality across the sector, you can read more about our commitment to diversity here.
We take a relationship-led approach to recruitment in the charity sector and partner with you as the leading charity recruitment agency.
If enough applications are received the charity reserve the right to end the application period sooner.
 

Employment Details: 

• Location: Haringey (N17), London, UK. (This is an In-Person role with optional one day working remotely) 
• Job Title:  Director of Operations 
• Reporting to: CEO, with accountability to the Board of Trustees 
• Line Manages: Operations Co-ordinator and Finance Officer
• Employment Type: Full-Time (40hrs Per Week)
• Start date: October 2026 (Ideally, or later if you have a notice period) 

Benefits:

• Annual Leave: 25 days (Exclusive of Bank Holiday)
• 1 x WFH/flexi working as per policy
• CPD Budget: £1000
• Group Life Insurance
• Discount on Food (Specific Restaurants)
• Free Brunch every Thursday
• Company Well-being Events
• Pension Contribution

Summary of the role:
The Director of Operations is a pivotal senior leadership role at Sister System, responsible for strengthening the people, culture, systems and organisational foundations that enable our mission to thrive. Working closely with the CEO, Senior Leadership Team and Board of Trustees, the postholder will play a central role in delivering our current strategic priorities and shaping the next chapter of Sister System as we develop our future strategy beyond September 2027. 

This is a significant opportunity to help shape a growing, values-led organisation founded on co-curation, sisterhood, race & gender equity and the belief that girls and young women should be active architects of the services, systems and opportunities designed for them. With oversight of financial management, people and culture, compliance, risk and organisational infrastructure, the Director of Operations will lead on empowering & ensuring that our internal culture and ways of working reflect the same care, accountability, ambition and empowerment that sit at the heart of our model. 

The role will be instrumental in translating our founding vision into strong, sustainable practice, ensuring Sister System is equipped to grow its impact while remaining deeply connected to the voices, experiences and leadership of the girls and young women we exist to serve. 

Our Charity:
Sister System exists to ensure that care-affected girls and young women are not defined by the systems they have experienced, but are supported to recognise their strengths, shape their futures and access the same opportunities as their peers. 

Our culturally competent, co-curated model works alongside girls and young women aged 13–24 through a long-term journey of support, progression and leadership. Across three interconnected stages, we provide trusted relationships, mentoring, therapeutic support, education, leadership development and pathways into employment. Our approach recognises that meaningful change takes time, consistency and a community that continues to believe in her. 

Founded with girls and young women, not simply for them, Sister System places their voices, experiences and ambitions at the heart of everything we do. Through our growing hub-and-spoke model, we are expanding our reach while also influencing the wider systems, services and institutions that shape their lives. 

Our ambition is not only to improve individual outcomes, but to demonstrate a better way of working with care-affected girls and young women—one that is relational, culturally responsive, asset-based and built around what they tell us they need to thrive. 

As Sister System enters its next phase of growth and prepares to shape its future strategy, we are seeking an experienced and values-led Director of Operations to join our Senior Leadership Team. This is an exciting opportunity to strengthen the people, culture, systems and infrastructure that will enable our organisation—and the girls and young women alongside us—to achieve even more. 

Our Vision: 
A world where empowered girls reach their potential through equitable opportunities.

Our Mission: 
To bridge the gap between care-affected girls and young women within mainstream society by working alongside them to ensure they have the same opportunities that everyone else has – at home, school, work and within our communities. 

Our Values: 

• COLLABORATIVE 
  We co-curate programmes with our Sis-Stars. We seek powerful partnerships. 
• EVIDENCE-BASED 
  We build trust and respect within our sector. 
• MASTERFUL 
  We aim for excellence as standard and share our learning. 
• SOLUTION-FOCUSED 
  We innovate to overcome challenges with a long-term goal in mind. 
• TENACIOUS 
  We are not afraid to take a stand and push for change. 

 
Key Responsibilities 

Strategic Leadership and Implementation 

• Work closely with the CEO, Senior Leadership Team and Board of Trustees to translate Sister System’s strategy, theory of change, operational model and financial plans into clear organisational priorities and coordinated action. 
• Play a central role in shaping Sister System’s next strategy ahead of the September 2027 refresh, ensuring it reflects our founding commitment to co-curation, the voices of girls and young women, our evolving three-stage model and our future growth ambitions. 
• Lead the development of proportionate planning, monitoring and review processes that enable the Senior Leadership Team to track progress, reflect on performance, identify barriers and remain accountable for delivery. 
• Monitor progress against agreed strategic goals and KPIs, ensuring that risks, dependencies and areas requiring leadership attention are clearly identified and addressed. 
• Support senior leaders to turn strategic priorities into realistic plans, with clear ownership, timescales and measurable outcomes. 
• Ensure that learning from delivery, impact data, staff experience and the voices of girls and young women inform strategic decision-making and organisational improvement. 
• Cultivate a strong shared sense of purpose across Sister System, helping colleagues understand how their roles contribute to our mission, values and long-term ambitions. 

Financial Strategy and Audit 

• Work closely with the CEO, Senior Leadership Team and Board of Trustees to shape, implement and regularly evaluate Sister System’s financial strategy, ensuring it supports our mission, strategic ambitions and long-term sustainability. 
• Provide clear, financial recommendations to the CEO, helping the organisation navigate the balance between delivering high-quality, meaningful impact for girls and young women, achieving value for money and maintaining financial resilience. 
• Translate Sister System’s strategic priorities, delivery model and growth ambitions into realistic financial plans, forecasts and scenarios that support timely and well-informed decision-making. 
• Lead financial scenario planning and ensure that the CEO and Board have a clear understanding of the financial implications, risks and trade-offs associated with key organisational decisions. 
• Lead and oversee the annual audit process, working effectively with external auditors, the finance team, senior leaders and the Board to ensure a robust, timely and transparent process. 
• Ensure that learning and recommendations arising from audits, financial reviews and assurance activity are translated into clear improvements and strengthened organisational practice. 

Financial Management 

• Lead the development, monitoring and management of annual budgets, reforecasts and longer-term financial plans, ensuring resources are aligned with Sister System’s strategic priorities. 
• Hold and actively manage the tension between quality, impact, affordability and value for money, ensuring financial decisions protect the integrity of Sister System’s model and the experience of the girls and young women we serve. 
• Provide the CEO, Senior Leadership Team and Board with clear, accessible and timely financial information, insight and recommendations to support effective leadership and governance. 
• Produce high-level financial reports and analysis covering budgets, cash flow, reserves, forecasts, strategic KPIs and other relevant performance indicators. 
• Maintain and continuously strengthen proportionate financial systems, controls and processes that reflect Sister System’s size, stage of growth and evolving operating model. 
• Ensure that robust financial and performance-reporting infrastructure is in place, with clear accountability, reliable data and appropriate oversight across the organisation. 
• Support Directors and budget holders to understand their financial responsibilities, manage resources effectively and make informed decisions within agreed parameters. 
• Identify emerging financial risks, pressures and opportunities for greater efficiency, advising the CEO on appropriate actions and ensuring these are monitored and addressed. 
• Oversee high quality bookkeeping practice to ensure reporting is accurate and up to date. 
• Work with the fundraising team to develop budgets for proposals and create timely financial reports for funders and donors 

Culture and Operational Effectiveness 

• Work closely with our People and Culture consultant, CEO and Senior Leadership Team to shape and embed a progressive, inclusive and high-performing organisational culture aligned with Sister System’s values: Collaborative, Evidence-based, Masterful, Solution-focused and Tenacious. 
• Champion a culture of regular, honest and constructive feedback, helping managers and colleagues to hold crucial conversations with clarity, care and accountability. 
• Ensure that Sister System’s internal culture reflects the relational, empowering and values-led approach that sits at the heart of our work with girls and young women. 
• Review existing organisational processes and workflows, identifying practical opportunities to improve clarity, consistency, collaboration and efficiency. 
• Develop and embed proportionate ways of working that support Sister System’s current size, evolving operating model and future growth. 

People Planning and Management 

• Lead the development of a clear and forward-looking people plan that ensures Sister System has the right structure, capacity, capabilities and leadership in place to deliver its strategic ambitions. 
• Support managers to build high-performing teams through effective objective-setting, regular feedback, performance management and professional development. 
• Foster an environment in which people are supported to grow, appropriately challenged and held accountable for delivering against agreed expectations. 
• Facilitate professional learning, career development and progression across the organisation, ensuring that opportunities are transparent, equitable and aligned with organisational need. 
• Oversee workforce and succession planning, ensuring that the organisational structure remains appropriate, affordable and responsive to Sister System’s development. 
• Work with the CEO and relevant advisers to ensure fair and appropriate pay, benefits and working conditions. 
• Oversee recruitment and the end-to-end employee experience, from attraction and onboarding through to development, retention and exit. 
• Ensure that people policies, practices and management approaches are legally compliant, consistently applied and reflective of Sister System’s values. 

Compliance and Risk Management 

• Ensure that Sister System meets its legal, regulatory and governance responsibilities as a charity and employer. 
• Lead the development and maintenance of a proportionate organisational risk-management framework that protects Sister System’s people, assets, reputation and ability to deliver its mission. 
• Ensure that key organisational risks are clearly identified, owned, monitored and reported to the CEO, Senior Leadership Team and Board of Trustees. 
• Promote a culture in which risk is understood and actively managed without limiting thoughtful innovation, learning or ambition.

Governance, Communications and Facilities 

• Facilitate clear, timely and effective communication and cooperation between the Board of Trustees, CEO and Senior Leadership Team. 
• Support the development of strong governance systems, ensuring that trustees receive the information, insight and assurance required to fulfil their responsibilities effectively. 
• Work closely with trustees through the Finance and Audit committee 
• Oversee the organisation’s IT infrastructure and digital systems through external providers, ensuring that they remain secure, reliable and appropriate for Sister System’s needs. 
• Oversee the effective operation of Sister System’s physical workspace within a fully managed office environment, working with building management and relevant external providers where required. 
• Ensure that Sister System provides a safe, welcoming and accessible environment for girls and young women, staff, volunteers, visitors and partners across its hub, spoke locations and external activities. 
• Ensure that appropriate health and safety systems, procedures and responsibilities are understood, implemented and regularly reviewed. 

Person Specification 
We are seeking an experienced, dynamic and values-led operational leader to join Sister System’s Senior Leadership Team. You will combine sound judgement and strong organisational skills with a warm, collaborative leadership style and a genuine commitment to improving outcomes for care-affected girls and young women. 

You do not need to be a specialist in every area of the role. You will, however, need the confidence and experience to lead across a broad operational portfolio, work effectively with professional advisers and external providers, and provide clear, practical advice to the CEO, Senior Leadership Team and Board of Trustees. 

Essential Experience and Knowledge 

• Significant experience in a senior operations, finance, people, governance or organisational leadership role within a charity, social enterprise or similarly values-led organisation. 
• Experience of translating organisational strategy into clear priorities, plans, systems and measurable outcomes. 
• Experience of developing and managing organisational budgets, forecasts and financial reporting, with the ability to balance quality, impact, affordability and value for money. 
• Experience of supervising or coordinating an external audit process, working effectively with auditors, finance colleagues and the Board. 
• Experience of people planning, performance management and supporting managers to build capable, accountable and high-performing teams. 
• Experience of developing or improving organisational systems, processes and ways of working during a period of growth or change. 
• A sound understanding of charity governance, organisational risk, compliance and the responsibilities of senior leaders and trustees. 
• Experience of working collaboratively with a CEO, senior leadership colleagues, trustees, consultants and external professional advisers. 
• A strong understanding of equity, inclusion and anti-discriminatory practice, and the ability to embed these principles within organisational culture and decision-making. 

Skills and Leadership Approach 

• An approachable, emotionally intelligent and credible leader who can build trust, motivate others and develop effective working relationships across an organisation. 
• The ability to lead with both care and accountability, supporting open feedback and helping colleagues to hold constructive and sometimes crucial conversations. 
• Strong strategic thinking, with the ability to understand the wider organisational picture while maintaining oversight of important operational detail. 
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to present complex financial, people or operational information clearly and accessibly. 
• Strong organisational and project-management skills, with the ability to prioritise competing demands, meet deadlines and maintain momentum. 
• Sound judgement and the confidence to provide constructive challenge, identify risks and offer clear recommendations to the CEO and Board. 
• A practical and solution-focused approach, with the ability to move from discussion and planning into coordinated action. 
• The ability to handle sensitive, confidential and personal information professionally and in accordance with Sister System’s policies, data-protection responsibilities and GDPR. 
• Energy, curiosity and enthusiasm for strengthening an ambitious organisation as it prepares to shape and deliver its next strategy. 

Values and Commitment 

• A demonstrable commitment to Sister System’s mission and to improving the opportunities, experiences and outcomes of care-affected girls and young women. 
• The ability to model and champion Sister System’s values: Collaborative, Evidence-based, Masterful, Solution-focused and Tenacious. 
• A commitment to co-curation and to ensuring that the voices, experiences and leadership of girls and young women inform organisational planning and decision-making. 
• A commitment to continuous learning, reflective practice and personal and professional development. 

Desirable 

• Lived experience of the care system, or a strong professional understanding of the experiences of care-affected girls and young women. 
• Experience of working within a founder-led organisation or alongside a founder CEO. 
• Experience of supporting an organisation through growth, restructuring or the development of a new strategy. 
• Knowledge of culturally competent, trauma-informed or relational approaches to working with young people. 
• A relevant professional qualification or equivalent experience in operations, finance, human resources, governance or organisational leadership. 
• Experience working with social care and educational service providers (statutory and third sector). 
• Knowledge of the Charity SORP, Charity Commission reporting requirements, and other third-sector financial regulation. 

Sister System is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

This post is subject to two satisfactory reference checks and DBS enhanced disclosure.

How to apply

Please apply via our recruitment platform Breathe by 31st August 2026. You will be asked to upload your CV and answer the following questions:

Values alignment 
Sister System's model is built on co-curation (working with girls and young women, not simply for them) and on being Collaborative, Evidence-based, Masterful, Solution-focused and Tenacious. Which of these values do you feel most aligned with, and which do you find hardest to live up to in practice?
 
People & Culture
Sister System is a founder-led organisation, underpinned by race and gender equity and a culturally competent, trauma-informed approach to working with girls and young women. Tell us about a time you strengthened internal culture of this nature within a team. What resistance did you meet, and what was different a year later?

Finance 
A key element of the role is monitoring income against budget for current and future years. Charity income can provide additional complexities, particularly with different types of grants. Please explain your understanding of these complexities, and how they impact on recording and reporting, including examples from your own experience if relevant. 

Timeline
Deadline for applications: End of day Monday 31st August 2026 
First round interviews: w/c 7th September 
Second round interviews: w/c 14th September
Decisions made: by 22nd September 

Thank you for your interest in joining Sister System in our mission to inspire and empower young women. 

Location: Hybrid – Home-based with some regional travel in England

Reports to: Head of Programmes and Impact

Contract: Fixed-term/Temporary maternity cover, approx. 12-month secondment

Salary: £30,600 per annum

Application deadline: Thursday 27th August at 9am

Interview information: We plan to hold online interviews from week commencing 7th September

About The Girls’ Network:

The Girls' Network is a national charity with a mission to inspire and empower girls from the least advantaged communities by connecting them with a network of professional women role models and volunteer mentors. We believe no girl should have her future limited by her gender, ethnicity, background, or parental income. Our vision is a future where all girls are supported to realise their ambitions, discover their self-worth, and shape their own futures.

We partner with secondary schools and colleges across multiple regions in England, including London, Merseyside, Portsmouth, Southampton, Sussex, Tees Valley, Tyne & Wear and the West Midlands. We match girls aged 14–19 with trained volunteer mentors for one-to-one support. In addition to this core mentoring, workshops, and access to an Ambassador Community that provides continued opportunities for development, career support, and connection.

Role Summary:

The Programme Development Officer is responsible for ensuring that The Girls' Network develops high-quality, consistent, and impactful programmes for girls and young women across all regions. Working closely with the colleagues in the Programme team, volunteers, and education establishments, the post-holder will support the development and continuous improvement of our mentoring, workshop, and ambassador offer. They will ensure that programmes are grounded in best practice and aligned to organisational strategy. Key responsibilities include leading programme quality assurance, developing resources, and delivering staff and volunteer training, while embedding learning from delivery to strengthen outcomes.

Alongside programme development duties, the post-holder will also be a member of the safeguarding team, acting as a Designated Safeguarding Officer (DSO). In this capacity, they will support the organisation's commitment to providing safe and inclusive programmes to girls and young women. This role involves supporting delivery staff on day-to-day safeguarding issues, refining policies as required, carrying out risk assessments, and auditing procedures to guarantee that safeguarding frameworks are consistently understood, accurately recorded, and central to service delivery.

Key Duties/Responsibilities:

Programme Development

• Support the development and continuous improvement of The Girls' Network's programme offer, ensuring delivery aligns with organisational strategy and responds to the needs of the girls and young women we serve.

• Develop and maintain programme standards, frameworks, and guidance to drive consistent, high-quality delivery across all regions.

• Take ownership of The Girls' Network volunteering platform, ensuring it effectively supports volunteer engagement and delivery.

• Ensure mentoring, workshops, and wider programme activities are aligned with The Girls' Network Theory of Change.

• Work collaboratively with the wider programme team to identify opportunities to strengthen and evolve programme delivery.

• Stay informed of sector research and emerging practice on mentoring, youth issues, and girls' empowerment, embedding relevant learning into programme design.

• Collaborate with the Head of Programmes & Impact to ensure programme development activity reflects both operational needs and strategic priorities.

Quality Assurance and Improvement

• Design and implement robust quality assurance processes that underpin excellence and consistency across programme delivery.

• Conduct programme reviews, fieldwork, and quality assurance activities, identifying strengths, risks, and opportunities for improvement.

• Work closely with the National Programme Manager to embed programme standards in day-to-day delivery and support the sharing of best practice across teams.

• Produce actionable recommendations and improvement plans to enhance programme effectiveness and operational delivery.

• Ensure programme resources, guidance, and delivery materials remain current, relevant, and aligned to organisational priorities.

• Foster a culture of learning, collaboration, and continuous improvement across programme delivery teams.

Programme Resources and Training

• Support the development, review, and maintenance of programme resources, workshop content, and mentoring materials.

• Design and deliver training, guidance, and support for programme staff and volunteers to enable effective and consistent delivery.

• Facilitate learning opportunities that build programme delivery capability across the organisation.

Safeguarding

• Act as a Designated Safeguarding Officer (DSO) and support the development, implementation, and regular review of safeguarding policies and procedures across the organisation.

• Act as a key point of contact for day-to-day safeguarding concerns, informing the Designated Safeguarding Lead(s) or relevant statutory bodies of situations/outcomes

• Provide quality safeguarding advice and guidance to staff and volunteers as required.

• Manage and respond to safeguarding concerns, disclosures and referrals, ensuring accurate documentation and appropriate action is taken in line with statutory requirements and The Girls’ Network policies. Initiate and coordinate referrals to external agencies and services, ensuring follow-up actions are carried out and monitored

• Contribute to the delivery of safeguarding training and the promotion of best practice across the organisation

• Keep abreast of safeguarding practice, making recommendations as appropriate, to ensure compliance with statutory and organisational guidelines

• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of safeguarding legislation, emerging risks, and sector best practice.

• Collate and produce safeguarding reports, data, and narrative for Head of Programmes and Impact as/when required.

Note: This job description is intended to convey information essential to understanding the scope of the role. It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of responsibilities and duties required.
 

Person Specification:

Essential

• Qualified teacher or experienced trainer, with a proven ability to design and deliver engaging learning programmes.

• Experience of developing, implementing, and improving youth, mentoring, education, or employability programmes.

• Experience of quality assurance, programme reviews, or service improvement activities.

• Experience developing resources, frameworks, guidance, or training materials.

• Experience using feedback, learning, and evaluation findings to inform programme development.

• Strong organisational and project management skills, including accurate record-keeping, case management, reporting and the ability to manage multiple priorities effectively.

• Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to build effective working relationships across a wide range of internal and external partners.

• Commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion, with a clear understanding of the barriers faced by girls and young women from disadvantaged backgrounds.

• Strong knowledge of child and adult safeguarding legislation, risk assessment, statutory guidance, and best practice.

• Experience managing safeguarding disclosures and referrals, including liaison with statutory agencies (e.g., social care, police, safeguarding boards).

• Ability to handle sensitive and complex cases with professionalism, discretion, and sound judgement.

• Ability and willingness to travel across our regions, as/when required (travel expenses will be reimbursed).

Desirable

• A full, clean driving licence.

• Experience working within the charity, education, youth, or mentoring sectors.

• Experience developing youth participation and voice programmes.

• Experience designing and implementing quality assurance frameworks, including evaluation approaches focused on outcomes and engagement.

• Knowledge of social and emotional learning, employability, or youth development approaches.

• Experience facilitating training and professional development for staff or volunteers.

• Experience using digital platforms or developing digital resources to support learning, engagement or programme delivery.

• Understanding of charity sector governance and the specific safeguarding considerations when working with volunteers.

• Knowledge of current trends and best practice in mentoring, education, or youth development programmes.

How to apply

Please apply as soon as possible. You will be asked to complete your application by submitting your CV and answering a few application questions.

Appointees are subject to a DBS check. You must have the right to work in the UK to apply.

The deadline to submit your application is 27th August at 9am. Please note that we reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications. We therefore encourage interested candidates to apply as soon as possible.

Use of AI in applications

AI can be a helpful tool for inclusivity and accessibility, and we recognise that it may support applicants with spelling or grammar. However, when it comes to our selection process, what matters most to us is hearing your authentic voice and personal experiences. We're not looking for polished answers — just your own experiences, in your own words.

Diversity at our core

The Girls' Network is an equal opportunities employer. We are committed to encouraging equality and diversity among our workforce and eliminating discrimination. In line with the Equality Act 2010, if you require any reasonable adjustments to support you with any stage of this recruitment process, please contact the HR team.

Our Benefits

• 27 holiday days per year, plus public holidays (pro-rata for part-time staff)

• Option to purchase up to 5 additional days of annual leave every year

• Gifted birthday leave

• 3 days volunteering leave per year

• Extended and comprehensive sick pay policy

• Enhanced Family Leave pay policy

• Pension scheme

• Annual professional development fund to help you grow

• 24-hour Employee Assistance Programme for wellbeing support

• Benefit from flexible, remote working options with a full suite of home office equipment.

• A dedicated Girls’ Network buddy, available beyond the induction period for ongoing support

Crisis is the national charity for people experiencing homelessness. We have embarked on our 10-year strategy for ending homelessness. We know it is not inevitable. We know together we can end it.

Location: Based onsite in Crisis Skylight Oxford, Old Fire Station, 40 George Street, OX1 2AQ

About the role

We have an exciting opportunity to join our Oxford Skylight as a Receptionist. You will be there to welcome people who are homeless seeking advice and start the process of helping them to end their homelessness.

You will support the team to manage a busy working environment, welcoming and supporting a range of people including new Skylight members, current members, members of the public using the café or arts facilities, staff, Crisis volunteers and visitors. You will provide administrative support for this fast and responsive service to those newly presenting as homeless. You will also carry out administration and housekeeping functions relating to the customer service and facilities management of the Old Fire Station. This role is based onsite with no option for homeworking.

About you

To be successful in this role you will be highly organised with experience of working within a reception or administrative support role, as well as experience providing a high standard of customer service. We are looking for someone who understand the issues faced by homeless people and is excited to learn about the ways we can support them. You will have experience in dealing with challenging situations and individuals with a range of needs, to reach a positive resolution through a calm and confident approach.

You will have excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to work successfully with disadvantaged or socially excluded groups and individuals. Effective communication skills, both verbal and written will be key, as well as working collaboratively within a team. As you will be the first point of contact for many people, you need to be friendly, enjoy helping and be willing to learn about Crisis and all the other activities taking place within the building.

Please see the full Job Pack linked below, for a full list of requirements for this role. We realise that long lists of criteria can be daunting, and you may not want to apply for a role unless you feel 100% qualified. However, if you feel you have relevant examples to answer the screening questions, we encourage you to apply.

We believe diversity is a strength, and our aim is to make sure that Crisis truly reflects the communities we serve. We are actively working towards our organisation being a place where everyone can thrive and make their best contribution to our mission of ending homelessness for good. We know that the more perspectives, voices, and experiences we can bring to this work, the better. We particularly welcome applications from people who have lived experience of homelessness, and people from all marginalised groups, communities, and backgrounds.

Working at Crisis

Our values, Bold, Impactful, Collaborative and Equitable, are at the heart of everything we do as we continue in our mission to end homelessness.

Our staff, members and volunteers are vital to getting the right government policies in place, providing breakthrough services, and building a supportive community. We’ll lead by example to nurture a positive and ambitious workplace guided by ending homelessness.

As a member of the team, you will have access to a wide range of employee benefits including:

• A competitive salary. Please note our salaries are fixed to counter inequity and we do not negotiate at offer stage.
• Interest free loans for travel season ticket, cycle to work, and deposit to secure a tenancy.
• Pension scheme with an employer contribution of 8.5%
• 28 days’ annual leave (pro rata) which increases with service to 31 days and the option to purchase up to 10 additional days leave.
• Enhanced maternity, paternity, shared parental, and adoption pay.
• Wellbeing Leave to be used flexibly
• And more! (Full list of benefits available on website)

Alongside our excellent staff benefits, we will support your ongoing development to build your skills, experience, and career.

When you join us, you will have the opportunity to join our staff diversity networks, which aim to champion issues across the organisation, enable staff to be their authentic and best selves and contribute to making Crisis a truly diverse organisation.

How do I apply?

Please click on the 'Apply for Job' button below. Our shortlisting process is anonymised as part of our commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion. We do not ask for CVs, instead we ask you complete the work history section and answer the screening questions for us to be able to assess you fairly and objectively. At least two members of staff score all applications.

Closing date: Sunday 6 September 2026 at 23:55

Interview date and location: Wednesday 16 and Thursday 17 September 2026 at Crisis Skylight Oxford, Old Fire Station, 40 George Street, OX1 2AQ

Interview process: Competency and values based interview

AI in Job Applications

We understand some candidates use AI tools when applying. Whilst we welcome the use of technology to support clear communication and structure, we want to learn more about you, so please ensure that your application reflects your own skills, knowledge and experiences

Location: Hybrid, London (3-4 days per week in the office)

Hours: Full-time, 35 hours per week

Contract: Temporary contract, initially 4 months 

Salary: £24.52 - £27.25 per hour (Plus holiday) FTE £44,753 to £49,738

Start Date: ASAP

We are delighted to be supporting a leading human rights organisation in the search for an experienced Head of Communications to join their team on an interim basis. This is an exciting opportunity to lead and deliver communications activity for a highly respected organisation working at the intersection of human rights, social justice, research and advocacy.

This role combines hands-on communications delivery with strategic leadership. The successful candidate will take ownership of day-to-day communications activity while providing expert advice on the future development of the communications function, helping shape the structure and priorities of a permanent team.

Responsibilities:

• Lead the organisation's communications function across digital channels, social media, website content and public engagement activity.
• Develop and deliver communications strategies to support major research projects, investigations, campaigns, films and other public-facing outputs.
• Build strong relationships with research and programme teams to identify and maximise communications opportunities.
• Oversee the promotion and public engagement strategy for exhibitions and key organisational projects.
• Create, edit and oversee compelling content for a range of audiences and platforms.
• Provide strategic communications counsel and act as a trusted adviser to the leadership team.
• Review existing communications processes, identifying opportunities to improve effectiveness, structure and impact.
• Monitor communications performance and recommend approaches to strengthen audience engagement and reach.
• Ensure communications activity maintains the highest professional standards and reflects the organisation's values and reputation.

Requirements:

• Significant senior communications experience gained within the NGO, human rights, advocacy, campaigning or social justice sectors.
• Demonstrable experience leading communications strategies and delivering high-profile public-facing campaigns.
• Strong understanding of the political, reputational and cultural sensitivities associated with human rights and advocacy work.
• Ability to operate at both strategic and operational levels, with a willingness to take a hands-on approach when required.
• Experience building credibility and influencing a wide range of stakeholders, including researchers, campaigners and senior leaders.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with exceptional attention to detail.
• Experience reviewing communications structures, processes or functions and making recommendations for improvement.
• A strong commitment to human rights, social justice and social change.

CVs will be reviewed on a rolling basis, so if you're interested in the role, please apply ASAP with your CV in a Word format.

At Prospectus, we are committed to supporting you throughout your application journey. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and do not discriminate based on age, gender, disability, race, religion, sexual orientation, marital status, or pregnancy/maternity.

Employment Specialist

Location: 17 Mann Island, Liverpool L3 1BP, UK

Salary:  up to GBP 30,000 - yearly

Vacancy Type: Full time (37 hours per week) - permanent

Company Description

Catch22 exists to help build a society where everyone has a good place to live, good people around them, and a fulfilling purpose. We call these our '3Ps'.

We achieve this in two ways. First, we improve lives on the frontline through delivery of public services. Secondly, we use our knowledge to change 'the system', to fix the complex web that can trap and disempower those it was set up to help. With the heart of a charity and the mindset of a business, we are uniquely placed to deliver on this challenging agenda.

The Catch22 Employability division provides skills and employability provision on a range of programmes, both public and corporate funded. We pride ourselves on supporting the most disadvantaged in society to improve their prospects resulting in improved social mobility and sustainable positive change.

Job Description

Our Employability division is expanding due to the procurement of a new Liverpool Connect to Work contract, and we therefore look to welcome an Employment Specialist into our experienced team. This role is often referred to as a career coach.

 As an Employment Specialist, you will play a vital role in supporting individuals facing barriers to employment, education and training to achieve their career aspirations and build brighter futures. The Supported Employment Specialist will deliver high-quality, person-centred employment support in line with the SEQF fidelity model. This role is focused on enabling people with disabilities, learning difficulties/disabilities, neuro-diverse conditions, poor mental health or individuals from other disadvantaged and/or complex backgrounds to prepare for, secure, and sustain meaningful paid employment aligned with their goals, while promoting inclusion, independence, and long-term wellbeing.

The role combines one-to-one support, employer engagement, collaboration with multidisciplinary mental health teams/community organisations and promote integration with Region’s Employability network.

Key duties:

• Deliver personalised, strengths-based employment support to individuals facing barriers to employment, education and training.
• Build trusted relationships with participants to identify aspirations, develop vocational goals and support progression into sustainable outcomes.
• Apply supported employment principles, including vocational profiling, job matching, rapid job search and in-work support, to achieve positive participant outcomes.
• Work collaboratively with employers, referral partners and community organisations to create opportunities and remove barriers to progression
• Please click here to see the full job description and person specification

Qualifications

We will need you to have:

• Five GCSEs or equivalent at Grade C/4 or above
• Knowledge of supported employment principles and employer engagement techniques.
• Qualification in Supported Employment/IPS or work towards achievement within 9 months
• Experience with learning disabilities/ASD/mental health/complex health challenges and/or disadvantaged groups

Desirable Criteria:

• Experience delivering supported employment services
• Information, Advice and Guidance (IAG) skills – IEP Level 2/3
• Understanding of welfare benefits and employment legislation

Benefits:

• Accredited SEQF level 3 qualification - delivered by The Busy Group
• 28 days annual leave + bank holidays, rising to 33 days with service.
• Pension scheme with matching contributions of up to 4%
• Access to discounted shopping opportunities and employee assistance programme

 We aim to review applications as quickly as possible. However, due to the volume of interest we receive, we may not be able to contact all applicants individually. If you have not heard from us within two weeks of the closing date, please assume that your application has not been successful this time.

At Catch22 we value equality, diversity and inclusion. We are wholeheartedly committed to the principle of equality of opportunity, both as an employer and as a provider of services. Diversity and Inclusion is part of what we do every day, working to deliver our vision to build a strong society where everyone has good people around them, a purpose, and a good place to live.

Catch22 is committed to rigorous safeguarding and safer recruitment practices; ensuring that every individual within the organisation has been safely and appropriately checked.

To Apply

If you feel you are a suitable candidate and would like to work for Catch22, please click apply to be redirected to our website to complete your application.

About the team

We have big goals over the next few years.

We're going to be fighting for mental health in a way we never have before.

Together we'll be working to make sure everyone experiencing a mental health problem gets the support and respect they deserve.

Team information

Will you join us?

Mind Cymru is Mind in Wales. We won't give up until everyone experiencing a mental health problem gets support and respect. We provide advice and support to empower anybody experiencing a mental health problem and we campaign to improve services, raise awareness and promote understanding.

Mind works across England and Wales with 11 staff at Mind Cymru's Cardiff office. Mind Cymru also works closely with our 15 affiliated Local Minds in all parts of Wales.

The Business Administrator works directly to the Director and supports the Senior Management Team (SMT), and is responsible for the effective running of the office, including dealing with correspondences, diaries and meetings and internal systems, including but not limited to, Microsoft Office, Stakeholder Register, Decision Time, Smartsheet's and Risk Management systems, keeping these up-to-date in support of the SMT.

Key duties and responsibilities

The post holder will:

-Effectively manage the efficient working of the Director's office being the first point of contact and providing administrative support and coordination across all functions, i.e. planning, risk, budget, training and general office activity.

-Organise and plan diaries, to optimise time, making travel and other arrangements as required.

-Be responsible for managing and responding to correspondence to the Director, identifying appropriate action and responses.

-Set up internal and external meetings as required and ensure the smooth running of these by setting dates, ensuring papers go out in good time, booking rooms and refreshments, taking accurate minutes and being proactive in following up actions arising.

-Provide high level customer care in dealing with routine and non-routine enquiries from staff, local Minds, external stakeholders using judgement to take or decide on appropriate action.

-Provide secretariat and administrative support for governance and other fora including Pwyllgor Cymru - the governance sub-committee for Wales; One Mind in Wales - the local Mind network in Wales; and The Wales Alliance for Mental Health - the alliance of leading mental health charities in Wales which is Chaired by the Director of Mind Cymru.

-Be the first point of contact for key members of the above groups and, with the Director, manage relations with them.

-Be responsible for co-ordinating and supporting meetings and be pro-active in ensuring that actions arising from the meetings are followed up.

-In keeping with the level of access and trust commensurate with this role, the post holder is required to maintain and observe an appropriate level of confidentiality at all times.

-Process invoices and make payments via Minds internal accounting processes, being planned and accurate in line with delegated responsibility.

-Work closely with the Social Impact Directorate Executive Assistant when required to ensure coordination with Mind Cymru and the wider Directorate plans, meetings and commitments.

Mind's equity statement

Mind is committed to equality of opportunity for all staff, and applications from individuals are encouraged regardless of age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief and marriage and civil partnerships.

Please refer to the Job Description while completing your application as candidates will be shortlisted based on how closely they match the criteria in the personal specification.

We retain the authority to close this vacancy prior to the advertised closing date and without prior notice, once an adequate number of applications has been received. Applications will be assessed on a continuous basis, and we respectfully advise prompt submission to ensure consideration.

This role requires a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.

We retain the authority to close this vacancy prior to the advertised closing date and without prior notice, once an adequate number of applications has been received. Applications will be assessed on a continuous basis, and we respectfully advise prompt submission to ensure consideration.

The Woodland Trust is looking for an Engaging Communities Officer - Trees for All at our Hainault Site. As an Engaging Communities Officer, you will support the delivery of the Woodland Trust's Trees for All programme in northeast London as part of the Woodland Trust's Central Region team. You will work with communities, partners and stakeholders across the London Borough of Redbridge to help more people connect with trees, woods and nature.

The Role:

• Build and maintain strong relationships with community groups, schools, volunteers, local authorities and delivery partners to support Trees for All objectives across northeast London.
• Plan and deliver inclusive community engagement projects, events and tree-planting activities that connect people with trees, woods and nature.
• Engage, inspire and support underrepresented communities, reducing barriers to participation and improving long-term access to local green spaces.
• Recruit, coordinate and support volunteers, ensuring positive experiences and successful delivery of engagement activities.
• Promote Woodland Trust initiatives through effective communications and outreach, maximising participation, impact and community involvement.
• Work collaboratively with internal teams and external partners to extend the reach, quality and sustainability of projects and programmes.
• Ensure activities are effectively planned, monitored and evaluated, maintaining accurate records and compliance with GDPR, safeguarding and reporting requirements.
• Champion the Woodland Trust’s values by embedding sustainability, equality, diversity, inclusion, health and safety and biosecurity standards in all aspects of delivery.
• This is a hybrid position with a mix of home working and from our Hainault Forest Site. Site attendance would be required once or twice a week on average. Occasional travel to other offices and remote locations may also be required.
• This is a fixed term contract for 2 years. Part time working 30 hours per week. 

The Candidate:

• Experience building and maintaining effective relationships with community groups, schools, volunteers, local authorities and partner organisations to support successful project delivery.
• Experience planning, organising and delivering engaging projects, events and programmes that promote environmental, education, health and wellbeing outcomes.
• Experience developing and delivering inclusive engagement activities that effectively reach and support underserved and underrepresented communities.
• Track record recruiting, coordinate and support volunteers, ensuring positive experiences and meaningful participation opportunities.
• Confidence promoting projects, campaigns and initiatives through a range of communication channels, creating engaging content and case studies to maximise impact.
• Experience engaging and educating children, young people and vulnerable adults, helping communities understand the environmental, social and health benefits of trees and green spaces.
• A track record of monitoring activity, managing records, budgets and databases and contribute to reporting, evaluation and continuous improvement.
• Confidence and accuracy ensuring all activities are delivered in accordance with safeguarding, health and safety, GDPR and biosecurity requirements while maintaining high professional and organisational standards.
• The successful candidate will be required to undertake an Enhanced DBS Check, as part of our pre-employment screening.

Benefits and Wellbeing:

Joining our team means you’ll be part of our fight for a greener, healthier planet for people and wildlife. We take good care of our staff, offering support and training opportunities. We also offer:

• Enhanced Employer Pension
• Life Assurance
• Flexible and hybrid working options (7am - 7pm)
• Generous annual leave - 25 Days plus Bank Holidays (pro rata for part-time)
• Buy and sell holiday scheme
• Enhanced parental pay
• Employee assistance programme

To support inclusivity and remove barriers for candidates, we publish all salaries upfront and proudly follow the We Show the Salary pledge. The salary listed is the set salary for this role, and we don’t ask applicants to state their current pay or expectations. If you choose to apply, we’ll take that as confirmation that the advertised salary meets your expectations.

About Us:

The Woodland Trust is the UK’s largest woodland conservation charity.  We want to see a world where woods and trees thrive for people and nature. The Trust engages and inspires people to make a difference by protecting, restoring and creating woodland and getting more trees in the ground.

Our commitment to Diversity and Inclusion:

To achieve our mission, we need to better reflect society and the communities we work in. People of colour and disabled people are currently under-represented across the environment and conservation sector. If you identify as a person of colour and/or disabled, we particularly encourage you to apply.

Application information and advice:

For fairness we keep our candidates’ personal details hidden from the hiring managers, and we do not ask for your CV at application.

Make sure that your personal statement clearly shows how your skills and knowledge link to the specifications in the job description and you share with us your passion for the role. Even if you don't meet every requirement of the role, we encourage you to apply.

Completed applications will be reviewed by a hiring manager and/or a member of the recruitment team, and you will receive an update on the outcome of your application via email.

Acceptable Use - Artificial Intelligence (AI):

We understand that candidates may choose to use AI tools to support their job applications. However, we ask that any information submitted reflects your own experience, skills and understanding. During interviews, candidates are expected to respond independently without the use of AI tools.

Apply now:

If you're ready to make a difference and grow with us, apply today. We might close advertising early if we get a lot of applications, so it's a good idea to apply soon. If we do close the advert early, and you have an application in progress, we will email you prior to closing to give you time to complete.

Interviews will take place in person at the Hainault Forest Visitor Centre on Tuesday 15th September. Interview questions will be provided before the interview to help you prepare.

For queries about this role, reasonable adjustments, or support with your application, please get in touch with our recruitment team.

Job Title: Trainee or Qualified Independent Domestic Violence Advisor (IDVA) working predominantly in the Cherwell and West Oxfordshire area

Locality: Cherwell and West Oxfordshire

Salary: £27,000 - £29,000

Hours of work: 37 hrs per week

Notice: 2 calendar months 1 month during the Probationary period. Probationary 6 months

Accountable to: Service Manager of Reducing the Risk of Domestic Abuse, CEO ultimately the Board of Trustees

Context of post

Reducing the Risk of Domestic Abuse is a company and charity set up to:

• provide inclusive services that reduce the risk of domestic abuse and promote the safety, choices and welfare of those affected
• enhance awareness of the nature and prevalence of domestic violence and help to foster good practice and an integrated multi integrated approach.
• The postholder will work in the high-risk team and be managed by the Service Manager with support from the Senior IDVA.
• A structured training and induction programme is in place to ensure new staff members are knowledgeable, confident and comfortable with the role.
• After 6 months of experience, the applicant will attend the Safelives IDVA training.
• Workload will be adjusted and study time will be given for attendance at training.
• Salary will be uplifted on successful completion of the course.

The trustees collectively have expertise in domestic abuse, child protection, criminal justice, voluntary sector governance, local authority community safety, training and quality assurance. While primarily a local charity the trustees anticipate that, with a focus on quality, some of the work of the charity may contribute to broader good practice development. The charity participates in a number of multi agency partnerships responsible for aspects of the county’s integrated domestic abuse strategy.

Function

The first priority of the charity is to provide an Independent Domestic Violence Advisor Service for the county. The post holder will be a member of the IDVA team and provide a pro-active service to victims of domestic violence to keep them safe and promote their wellbeing. They will use their skills to assess the risk a client is in, deliver a service appropriate to the level of risk and have a particular focus on providing an intensive service to those at high risk. The post holder will have the skills to act as lead professional, working to ensure an integrated service and co-ordinating multi agency work to keep people safe, in addition to working with victims and signposting to other services.

Responsibilities:

• Work as part of the Oxfordshire IDVA team to provide pro-active service and advice to victims at high risk of harm from domestic abuse to keep them and their children safe
• Risk assess and deliver service in keeping with the result
• Undertake safety planning with clients
• Develop individual service plans to meet the specific risks clients face
• Where relevant also support victims in their role as primary carers for their children
• Manage a caseload
• Maintain and update records of all cases
• Participate in champion networks and work closely with outreach workers and any other dedicated DA services as appropriate
• Participate in MARAC framework: refer clients to, attend and participate in meetings, follow-up on actions agreed in MARAC
• Keep other relevant services informed about important changes in client’s situation
• Support clients through the criminal justice system, explaining the procedures and their role and rights within that system
• Ensure that clients are immediately informed of any CJS developments and advised on any aspect affecting their safety
• Explain housing, civil and criminal legal options to clients
• Ensure that clients access the services to which they are entitled
• Refer on and arrange meetings with other agencies/services as necessary e.g. solicitors, benefit agencies, etc.
• Note and feedback to other agencies any consistent difficulties clients are having accessing their service
• Help clients develop their own support network
• Follow procedures and protocols so that the safety of the clients is kept central to any process
• Ensure Reducing the Risk fulfils its responsibilities in relation to safeguarding children
• Understand the legal framework relating to the protection of children, and the policy and procedures of Oxfordshire Safeguarding Children’s Board – including specific guidelines applied to the voluntary sector
• Participate in supervision and support systems for the service, and in training and professional development
• Bring casework issues and regular difficulties clients are having to the attention of the manager; contribute to efforts to improve Reducing the Risk practice and procedures and/or to work through multi agency partnerships to improve multi agency practice
• Any additional responsibilities as reasonably requested by the manager or trustees

The nature of this post will require flexibility to meet work needs as they arise. This may occassionally entail some work outside normal office hours. The post holder will be expected to adopt a flexible attitude to their duties. These may have to be varied after discussion, subject to the needs of the service and in keeping with the general profile of the post. There will also sometimes be a necessity to work effectively under pressure.

Appointment to the post will be subject to full enhanced DSB checks.

Full drivers licence with the use of a car for work

Ability to travel around the county

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: £27,000.00 to £29,000.00 per year depending on experience

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday

Licence/Certification:

• Driving Licence (required)

Work authorisation:

• United Kingdom (required)

Work Location: In person

Contract: Interim, immediate start until mid-November 2026
Reports to: Chief Operating Officer

The Role

We are seeking an experienced and highly hands-on Interim Head of Finance to join an international not-for-profit organisation for a short-term assignment.

The key priority will be to hold the fort during a period of transition, ensuring the day-to-day finance function continues to operate effectively before providing a comprehensive handover to the incoming permanent Head of Finance.

This is very much a hands-on, sleeves-rolled-up role. Alongside overseeing the finance function, you will be comfortable getting into the detail yourself, including making payments, managing payroll and VAT returns, maintaining accurate financial information and supporting the migration to a new banking provider.

A significant project during the assignment will also be leading the development of the organisation’s 2027 annual budget.

Key Responsibilities

• Take ownership of the day-to-day finance function throughout the interim period.
• Manage and support the Finance Officer.
• Maintain accurate and timely financial information, reporting and controls.
• Take a hands-on role in payments, payroll and VAT returns.
• Manage and oversee the organisation’s Xero accounting system.
• Lead the migration to a new banking provider, ensuring a smooth transition and appropriate controls.
• Lead the preparation of the 2027 organisational budget, working closely with senior leaders and budget holders.
• Provide management information and financial advice to the COO, CEO and Senior Leadership Team.
• Support effective management and reporting of restricted donor funds, including appropriate allocations and cost recovery.
• Work with fundraising colleagues on grant budgets and donor financial reporting where required.
• Ensure key financial and statutory deadlines continue to be met.
• Maintain strong financial controls and ensure the finance function is well organised for the incoming permanent Head of Finance.
• Deliver a clear and comprehensive handover at the end of the assignment.

About You

We are looking for someone who can quickly get to grips with an organisation and operate with minimal supervision. You will be equally comfortable working with senior stakeholders and getting directly involved in transactional and operational finance.

You will ideally bring:

• A recognised accountancy qualification – ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent.
• Strong experience operating at Head of Finance / Financial Controller level within a charity, NGO or wider not-for-profit environment.
• Good working knowledge and practical experience of Xero.
• A genuinely hands-on approach, with the willingness to process payments and get involved in payroll, VAT and the day-to-day finance workload.
• Strong budgeting and forecasting experience, ideally having led an organisation-wide annual budgeting process.
• Experience managing and reporting on restricted donor or grant funding, including allocations.
• Knowledge of UK charity accounting and Charity SORP.
• Strong financial controls and process management experience.
• The ability to communicate financial information clearly to non-finance colleagues.
• The confidence to quickly establish priorities, keep the function running effectively and leave everything in good shape for the permanent postholder.

This would suit an experienced interim finance professional who enjoys getting stuck into the detail and can provide a safe pair of hands during a period of transition.

Executive Officer to the Secretary of the Conference

Could you help shape the governance and leadership of the Methodist Church?

Do you have the judgement, organisational skills and initiative to support one of the Methodist Church's most senior office holders?

About the Role

We are seeking an experienced, highly organised and proactive Executive Officer to support the Secretary of the Conference.

This is a unique opportunity to work at the heart of the Methodist Church's governance, leadership and decision-making structures.

Working closely with the Secretary of the Conference and colleagues across the Conference Office, you will provide executive, governance and project support, helping to ensure the effective delivery of key priorities and the smooth operation of major governance processes.

The role combines executive support, committee and governance administration, research and briefing, stakeholder engagement and project coordination. It offers the opportunity to work with senior leaders, office holders and colleagues from around the Methodist Connexion and beyond.

The post holder will provide advice and support to the Secretary of the Conference across the entire range of their responsibilities. They will prepare briefing papers, reports, presentations, worship material and other documentation supporting the Secretary.

In this crucial role, the Executive Officer will read committee and meeting papers and flag items requiring the Secretary's attention/awareness, ensuring appropriate briefings are received and that the Secretary is alerted to key issues. 

The post holder will also lead on the preparation for regular meetings on behalf of the Secretary of the Conference including the Connexional Leaders’ Forum and the Nominations Committee.  The successful applicant will also liaise with the wider Methodist family of charities and organisations to enable regular engagement and updates for the Secretary. 

The successful applicant will also undertake and develop special projects, or plan or commission research on behalf of the Secretary of the Conference.

Please note that applications from Methodist Ministers (Presbyters and Deacons) cannot be considered for this role.

About You

We are seeing an individual committed to making a positive contribution to the work of the Conference Office by providing executive support to the Secretary.

To be successful in this role you will be confident navigating complex organisations, managing competing priorities and exercising sound judgement when handling sensitive matters.

You will bring strong executive support, governance or project coordination experience, alongside excellent communication skills and a proactive, collaborative approach. You will be equally comfortable preparing high-quality briefings and reports, coordinating key meetings and governance processes, and building effective working relationships with colleagues, volunteers and partners.

The successful applicant will demonstrate the ability effectively to support a senior manager or senior office holder and be experienced in researching information and producing briefings and reports.

You can prioritise, work unsupervised and demonstrate imitative.  You can assimilate new information quickly and keep abreast of rapidly changing situations and work themes. 

You will have outstanding organisational and communication skills, with a meticulous eye for detail, and strong proficiency in written and spoken English.

You have strong interpersonal skills and can work with colleagues as an effective member of a team and work alongside and guide volunteers. 

Ability and willingness to travel for work purposes including some evening, weekends and overnight stays is essential for this role. 

If you meet most of the requirements, we encourage you to apply; transferable skills and experience will also be taken into consideration.

Our Culture, Values and Benefits

Thank you for considering joining our inclusive and welcoming team that strives for excellence and values employee wellbeing, a work-life balance augmented by:

• Generous annual leave (plus an extra 3 days over Christmas/New Year)
• Flexi-leave and or TOIL (where applicable)
• Access to an on-site Wellbeing Adviser service.
• A generous occupational pension scheme, where the Methodist Church will pay double the employee contribution up to a maximum of 16% employer contribution.

The Methodist Church is an inclusive and supportive employer. We are actively committed to encouraging applications from all backgrounds, including Black, Asian and other Minority Ethnic groups. 

Closing date: Sunday 6 September 2026

Interview Date: Monday 14 September 2026 in London

Please note: We reserve the right to close this advert early if sufficient applications are received. 

There are many benefits to becoming a Peer Support Worker, including access to a wide range of training and development opportunities, 28 days’ pro rata annual leave, and wellbeing support such as our Employee Voice group, Wellbeing Wednesdays, and access to in-app support and benefits. You will receive regular check-ins with your line manager to ensure you feel supported as you develop within the role.

We welcome applications from people with lived experience of some of the issues our clients face, including homelessness, mental health challenges, substance use, or involvement with the criminal justice system.

SIFA Fireside’s Support Centre, based in Digbeth, delivers a range of services to people experiencing homelessness or who are vulnerably housed. The Peer Support Worker Service (PSWS) is a team of individuals who work with rough sleepers across the city of Birmingham, aiming to facilitate connection, motivate and inspire, and provide a non-judgemental listening ear. The service supports individuals facing Multiple Exclusion Homelessness (MEH), empowering them to make informed choices about their lives.

The Peer Support Worker role includes street outreach across Birmingham, building trust and rapport with the rough sleeping community. Many individuals have had negative experiences with services, leading to a lack of trust and reluctance to engage. Some may also have limited experience of managing accommodation or navigating support services. The role therefore centres on developing supportive, persistent, and compassionate relationships.

Using a trauma-informed approach, the Peer Support Worker Service provides relational, collaborative, assertive, and personalised support to individuals facing complex and multiple disadvantages. At the heart of this work lies the relationship between the Peer Support Worker and the service user – characterised by non-judgemental support at the individual’s pace and by advocacy where needed.

Key Tasks

 1. Support people through street outreach, building trust and rapport with rough sleepers in Birmingham.

2. Build and maintain trust with individuals facing Multiple Exclusion Homelessness through social and community-based activities.

3. Support individuals in their positive behavioural change journeys using trauma-informed, strengths-based approaches that build confidence and wellbeing.

4. Work collaboratively with other frontline services across the city, engaging in day-to-day liaison to ensure a multi-disciplinary response.

5. Assist in crisis intervention and provide support in challenging situations, connecting individuals with appropriate professional help when required.

6. Participate in training and development, contributing to discussions on multiple disadvantage, trauma-informed practice, and homelessness.

7. Prioritise safety for yourself, colleagues, and clients by completing thorough risk assessments and applying dynamic risk-assessment skills.

8. Participate in effective safeguarding practice, including identifying and responding to adult safeguarding concerns and self-neglect.

9. Recognise the emotional demands of the role and prioritise self-care to maintain personal wellbeing and effectiveness.

10.  Engage in supervision, reflective practice, and wider wellbeing support opportunities.

11.  Record and monitor client interactions and support sessions accurately to contribute to service impact reporting.

12.  Undertake any other duties as required and appropriate to the post.

Working conditions:

· Working hours are between 8:30 am and 4:00 pm.

· Travel expenses will be paid for all work-related journeys.

· There may be occasions when flexible working outside of core hours is required to meet client needs.

· The role requires participation in street outreach activities conducted on foot, sometimes in challenging weather or environmental conditions.

 

Job title: Programme Assistant, Enquiries 

Line manager: Team Leader, Enquiries (Senior Officer, Enquiries, in Team Leader’s absence) 

Salary: £30,000 

Type of contract: Permanent 

Start date:  Late October 2026 or shortly thereafter 

Benefits: 

• Challenging and rewarding work, always life-changing, sometimes lifesaving 
• Competitive salary 
• Team and individual training opportunities, including dedicated training budget and team lunch and learn activities monthly 
• Commitment to personal development, including opportunities to develop skills and experience to support wider Cara strategy participating in working groups, contribute to office improvement initiatives 
• Hybrid working, home and office (minimum 2 days each week in the London office) 
• Eight hours each day Monday – Friday, with flexible working by arrangement around core hours of 10am – 4pm 
• 25 days annual leave entitlement plus Bank Holidays and two weeks Christmas and New Year office closure
• 8% employer pension contribution 
• Wellbeing support, access to counselling when required, Mental Health First aid and supportive small team environment
• Convenient office location at Elephant and Castle, close to Tube (Bakerloo and Northern lines) and bus routes 

Role purpose statement:  The Programme Assistant, Enquiries, plays a vital administrative role in the Fellowship Programme working directly with academics facing immediate risk in their home countries. The role exists to provide effective and efficient administration, completing due diligence tasks and onward signposting to prospective applicants. Duties include managing an individual caseload of applicants, assisting prospective applicants and administrative support for general enquiries, the Enquiries team as well as support across the Fellowship Programme when needed. 

Organisational Background 

The Council for At-Risk Academics is a UK-registered charity founded in 1933 under the leadership of William Beveridge, to assist academics suffering persecution under the rise of Nazism and facilitate their continued work in safety. Sixteen Cara Fellows from the 1930s and 1940s became Nobel Laureates, and many more innovators in their fields, including, Nikolaus Pevsner, Lise Meitner and Karl Popper. 

Cara has been a lifeline to academics at risk for over 90 years enabling them to continue their teaching and research in safety, as and when world events have placed them in the line of fire: Hungarian Uprising, Cold War, Apartheid South Africa, Iran, Latin American Juntas, Vietnam, Kosovo, DRC, Rwanda, Sudan, Zimbabwe etc. and, more recently Iraq, Turkey, Yemen, Palestine, Syria, Afghanistan and Ukraine.

Today, our Fellowship Programme convenes a network of 135 UK universities in the UK to secure research placements for at-risk academics and support for their families, continuing a longstanding commitment of protecting academics and preserving their knowledge and expertise.

Cara Objectives‘To assist academics who have been, or are at risk of being, subject to discrimination, persecution, suffering or violence on account of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group, or political opinion, to relieve needs among them and their dependants and ensure that their specialist knowledge and abilities can continue to be used for the benefit of the public.’ 

‘To advance education by supporting academics and their educational institutions in countries where their continuing work is at risk or compromised, to ensure that such academics and institutions can continue to fulfil their critical role as educators for the public benefit.’ 

Role & Responsibilities 

Casework 

• Signposting prospective applicants to the application form. 

• Manage own caseload, preparing cases for eligibility review, including arranging calls to speak with applicants, booking English language tests, and gathering all relevant documentation. 

• Escalating complex cases to the Team Leader as required. 

• Maintain accurate and GDPR-Compliant records of casework activity. 

• Researching international affairs to develop understanding about risks applicants face. 

• Attending weekly case review meetings with the team. 

Administration 

• Provide general administrative and logistical support, including answering phone enquiries. 

• Manage the general enquiries inbox, alongside another colleague, answering emails about the enquiries’ process, the Fellowship Programme and Cara. 

• Signpost enquiries to relevant colleagues internally and to other organisations where applicable. 

• Assist with compilation of reports to funders. 

• Present and collect data on general enquiries and applications to the Programme. 

• Ensure safekeeping of confidential information. 

• Maintain excellent detailed records of correspondence, documents, and activities. 

• Provide administrative support to colleagues on projects across the organisation as required. 

Managerial Support 

• Take part and contribute to Cara wide working groups across a range of research and strategy topics, including contributing to efficiency improvements.

• Provide advice and guidance to colleagues where applicable. 

Ad Hoc Responsibilities 

• Show adaptability and willingness to take on additional work when necessary. 

• Support the Fellowship Programme and Cara as a whole with ad hoc responsibilities. 

Responsibilities also include related activities that might arise in relation to the Fellowship Programme and Cara's other programmes as required by the Chief Executive and Deputy Chief Executive & Fellowship Programme Manager, and other senior colleagues. 

Person Specification 

Essential: 

• Bachelor’s degree 

• Fluent English (spoken and written) 

• Proactive with a willingness to learn and contribute to a growing organisation 

• Confident and empathetic with strong interpersonal and communication skills 

• Ability to remain adaptable and work under pressure in a fast-paced environment 

• Keen team player who is ready to support and help colleagues 

• Excellent record keeping and attention to detail 

• Ability to work independently in a hybrid work setting 

• Good time management with ability to manage competing priorities and work to deadlines 

• Understanding of issues of confidentiality 

• Ability to handle difficult conversations with sensitivity and resilience 

• Interest in and commitment to the work of Cara 

• Confident using Microsoft package 

• Awareness of current global issues 

Desirable 

• Master’s or equivalent experience 

• Casework experience 

• Arabic language skills are desirable. Other foreign languages (such as Farsi/Dari, Pashto, Ukrainian and Russian) will also be considered 

• Salesforce/CRM software experience 

• Lived experience or experience in supporting people who’ve gone through forced migration or other forms of severe adversity 

Applicants must have the right to work in the UK and be willing to undergo a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check if offered this position. 

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to an initial online interview on the week starting 21st September and if successful, will be required to attend an in-person interview at our office in London on the week starting 28th September. If you require any reasonable adjustments at any stage of the process, please mention this as part of your application. 

Our staff team is a small (approx. 20 staff), committed and dedicated team, who works with our organisational values of Community & Collaboration, Trust & Integrity and Resilience through Knowledge & learning, we welcome applications from those with diverse identities and you will find a warm and welcoming team, committed to the highest standards as we seek to support those at risk around the world.

Application Instructions 

Please send a CV along with a cover letter in response to the screening questions below. Applications that do not follow this guidance will not be considered. 

At Cara, we do not utilise AI tools at any stage during the recruitment process, and all applications we receive are reviewed by at least two members of our team. 

We recognise that whilst artificial intelligence can be a useful tool in preparing a job application, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. 

Applicants may find AI useful for: 

• Refining and clarifying ideas and thoughts in your application 

• Researching publicly available information about Cara 

• Checking spelling, grammar and clarity of your answers 

However, we ask you to refrain from using AI for: 

• Generating responses to application questions and copying these into your application 

• Inventing or exaggerating your skills and experiences 

• Using live AI during interviews to answer questions 

We tend to find that applications that rely too heavily on AI-generated responses are not as competitive, and at Cara we value answers informed by personal experiences. We may also reject applications where AI has been used inappropriately. 

Please respond to the following questions in your cover letter (max. 2 pages).

1. What interests you about Cara and the work of supporting at-risk academics, and how do your experience and skills relate to this role? (max 500 words)
2. Describe a specific situation in which you had to manage competing priorities? How did you approach the situation? (max 250 words)
3. Tell us about a time when you had to deal with a person who was in a vulnerable situation. How did you handle this and what did you learn from this experience? (max 250 words)

We reserve the right to close applications for this role early if we receive a high number of applications.

Do you want to support people with mental health issues in a moment of crisis? Are you calm, non-judgmental and able to work effectively with people experiencing distress?

If you can embody our values of Hope, Courage, Togetherness, and Responsiveness, and want to help others build resilience and manage their wellbeing, we’d love to hear from you.

Job title: Hospital Mental Health Outreach Worker / Community Outreach Worker (Bounce Back)
Reference Number: 377
Reports to: Senior Community Outreach Worker (Bounce Back)
Contract: Permanent
Hours: Full time, 37.5 hours per week (Monday – Friday, 9am – 5pm)
Based: Watford General Hospital and Watford Wellbeing Centre
Salary: £26,000 - £27,000 per annum

We have a vacancy for a Bounce Back Worker to join our team.

The Bounce Back service forms an integral part of Hertfordshire Mind Network’s Complex Needs Community Services. The service provides one-to-one outreach support to facilitate a smooth, timely and supportive discharge from hospital back in to the community.

About the Project

Herts Mind Network (HMN) has a partnership with Hertfordshire Partnership Foundation Trust (HPFT) to deliver a one-to-one outreach service for people who are in hospitals across Hertfordshire.

There is an emergency department arm of the project and will be based at Watford General Hospital working in A&E departments, with the Mental Health Liaison Team, and hospital wards facilitating hospital discharge for people with mental health need.

About the Role:

The Bounce Back Worker will be based at Watford General Hospital and HMN Centres, promoting joint working between Watford A&E, creating a seamless pathway into community support for clients recovering from mental ill health.

The aims of the Bounce Back service are to provide up to 16 sessions of emotional and practical support and advice & information to patients. We will visit patients on the ward and continue the sessions in the local community and in patient’s homes once discharged. We will facilitate a smooth and timely hospital discharge.

Key Responsibilities

The Bounce Back worker will use a recovery orientated approach working with patients on the ward, and in the local community, including in people’s homes.  The recovery approach includes empathy, warmth, acceptance, authenticity, compassion and humanity. To work with hospital staff to ensure patients are offered advice, information, and holistic support.

The post holder will need to:

• Provide practical and emotional support to encourage patients to develop their independence within their local community.
• Facilitate a smooth discharge from hospital back to the community.
• Have a solid understanding on the dual effect of mental health and drugs and alcohol.
• Monitor outcomes and evaluate the service.
• Ensure that the safety and wellbeing of patients using the service is monitored and reviewed regularly.
• Embed a person centred and recovery orientated approach in all aspects of the roles and responsibilities.

We offer:

• Annual leave entitlement of 25 days per year pro rata, rising in increments to a max. of 29 days after 5 years employment (plus 8 days Bank Holidays)
• An additional day of leave each year for your birthday following completion of probation period.
• Ongoing training relevant to your role.
• An Employee Assistance Programme.
• Health cover (after 6 months employment) – compensation payment for Optical, Dental, Chiropody and Therapy Treatments.
• Eligibility for blue light card.

Being able to drive and having access to your own vehicle (or equivalent) is essential for this role.

Closing date for receipt of applications is Wednesday 9th September at 5pm.
Interviews will be held on Tuesday 15th September at our Watford Wellbeing Centre.
N.B: Please quote reference number 377 when completing your application for this role.

Interested?

If you would like to find out more, please click the apply button. You will be directed to our website to complete your application for this position.

We welcome applications from all suitably-qualified candidates, irrespective of gender, disability, marital or parental status, racial, ethnic or social origin, colour, religion, belief, or sexual orientation.

In addition, during the various stages of recruitment, specific measures can be taken to ensure equal opportunities for candidates with disabilities or special needs.

Hertfordshire Mind Network is committed to the Disability Confident and Mindful Employer charters. We actively recruit staff who have a lived experience of mental ill health. Our inclusive approach recognises the unique skills, knowledge, and perspectives that lived experience brings to our team.

No agencies please.